Nobody Messes With The Game Balls

Kickers can no longer squeeze, scuff and microwave their footballs, because this season the kicking balls are under the equivalent of lock and key.

It's the duty of the game officials to make sure they stay that way.

Three hours before game time, a dozen kicking balls, each marked with a "K" and sealed individually in plastic bags, are delivered in a box taped closed to the officials' locker room. The referee inspects the box to see if has been tampered with.

It's all part of the NFL's move to reduce touchbacks and keep kickers from doctoring footballs.

On Sunday, before the Dolphins-Chargers game, referee Phil Luckett and five members of his officiating crew rubbed down the 12 K balls -- and 24 regular game balls -- with wet towels to roughen the waxy sealant, making the balls tackier and easier to grip.

Head linesman Gary Slaughter, who works full-time at a footwear manufacturing company, likens the preparation to breaking in a new pair of leather shoes.

After the rubdown, Luckett measures the air pressure, then brushes the end lace of the football with a red marking pen; for the K balls, he marks the laces on both ends, making those balls easier to identify during the game. Each referees has his own marking: One uses initials; another his officiating number; a third, a former Navy officer, stamps an anchor.

The four ball boys each carry one regular and one K ball during the game. Several other K balls are kept on the sidelines under the eye of stadium security.

The task may seem cumbersome, but side judge Ron Liesback reminds, for the Super Bowl "There are 96 balls to prepare and 24 kicking balls."

Frisbee dogs a hit

Dolphins fans didn't have a lot to cheer about in Miami's 12-9 victory, but they applauded loudly for the halftime antics of Turbo and Jetta, the K-9s in Flight Frisbee dogs.

The dogs, mixed breeds, delighted fans by jumping to catch white Frisbees owner John Misita of Fort Lauderdale flung across the field. Turbo, a champion Frisbee dog with local and national titles, also stood on his hind legs, balanced a Frisbee on his head and grabbed a Frisbee from his owner's mouth.

The Fort Lauderdale school will receive $500 from the NFL for its football program, and Smith is eligible for the NFL High School Coach of the Year award, which will be presented during the Dolphins-Jets game on Dec. 27.

'Tis the season ...

The spirit of the holiday season was in full swing. Some ticket-takers, who handed out Dolphins calendars to the first 50,000 fans, and ushers sported Santa hats.

The Salvation Army of Broward and Miami-Dade counties collected donations at the gates, as did the Marine Corps, which held its annual Toys for Tots drive, collecting new, unwrapped toys.